August 10, 2021: Welcome Back To School!

August 10, 2021: Welcome Back To School!
Posted on 08/09/2021
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Dear TMSA and QCSS Community,

Welcome back to school!

We are so excited to be open full-time this year. We are looking forward to welcoming the return of all our students and seeing them Monday through Friday each week, starting on Tuesday, August 10.

Opening full time with in-person instruction is the only option North Carolina allows charter schools to provide now. Unfortunately, there has been very little progress in the last couple of months in the legislative body on the proposed bills that will enable charter schools to provide remote instruction.

We know that the unavailability of remote instruction at TMSA might be unsettling for some of our parents, considering the recent surge in the pandemic. However, TMSA Public Charter Schools are now more resilient and well prepared for the pandemic. Please know that each of our schools has gone to great measures to keep students and staff safe. Our campuses and operating procedures will not look the same as pre-pandemic, and we are constantly adapting ourselves to evolving local, state, and federal safety guidelines.

In all our schools:

  • “REME Halo” in-duct air purification system has already been installed. This system tremendously improves indoor air quality to a level comparable with surgical rooms at hospitals. It is the only laboratory-proven system to reduce SARS-CoV-2 present in the environment by 99.9%.
  • Students, staff, and visitors will be temperature-checked for signs of illness or COVID-19 exposure upon entry.
  • Masking indoors at schools and on transportation is required for everyone – including for vaccinated individuals. Wearing a face shield in addition to a mask is permissible, but the face shield alone is not a substitute for a mask.
  • Masks must be constantly worn except during eating and/or drinking.
  • Hand and mask hygiene will be emphasized and always practiced. There is signage to remind students of best hygiene practices throughout the schools.
  • Students will be asked to maintain as much physical distancing as possible. There is signage to remind students of physical distancing throughout the schools.
  • Buildings will be thoroughly cleaned up daily.
  • If a student or a staff member has symptoms and tests positive for COVID-19 or has been exposed to someone who tested positive, the school will work with the local health department and TMSA Central Office to determine the next steps according to the latest CDC guidelines.
  • Each school will communicate their more detailed reopening plan with their parents. Please be in close communication with your school.
  • We want to remind you that North Carolinians aged 12 and over are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines. You can visit yourspotyourshot.nc.gov for more information and find a free vaccination site in your area.

We are doing our best to make our schools safe places to learn and succeed. We know that we can make it together through this recent surge safely and successfully.

Again, we look forward to welcoming students and their families back to school on August 10.

Thank you for your continuous support and understanding.

Sincerely,

TMSA Public Charter Schools